Automatic machine-gun.



Patented Feb. 13

N0. 643.il8.

. F. M. GARLAND.

AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN.

Ap iicution filed Jan 27, 1899) 3 Sheeis-Sheet l.

No. 643.|l8.

Patented Feb. l3, I900.

F. M. GARLAND.

AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN.

Application filed Jan. 27. 1899.)

3 Sheets$heet 2 yHo Model.)

No. 643,|l8.

Patented Feb. l3, I900.

F. M. GARLAND. AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN.

(Application filed Jan. 27, 1899.)

3 Sheats-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

FRANK M. GARLAND, OF NElV HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNCR OF TVVO- TIHRDS TO EBENEZER .B. BEECHER, OF \VESTVILLE, CONNECTICUT.

AUTOMATICMACHINE-GUN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 43,118, dated February 13, 1900. Application filed January 27,1899. Serial No. 703.610. (No model.)

To all w 1.0m, it may concern.-

Be it own that I, FRANK M. GARLAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Machine-Ggins, of which the following is a specificatiou.

This invention relates to a machine-gun which fires cartridges that are passed to the mechanisms by a belt and in which the'discharge of the preceding cartridge automatically causes the mechanisms to feed, load, and fire the following cartridge as long as the trigger is pulled and cartridges are supplied.

The object of the invention is to produce a light-gun of this nature with simple and positive mechanisms which can be relied upon when the emergency arises to fire the cartridges individually or in rapid succession, as desired, without becoming disabled by the breakage of pieces or by the foulingand clogging of moving parts. I

The gun illustrated by the accompanying drawings has a single barrel that recoils and. places a spring under tension when a cartridge is fired. After the recoil is checked the spring draws the barrel forward with a speed determined by the adjustment of a liquid-regulator. The forward movement of the barrel causes the feed mechanism to advance the cartridge-belt into the case and the breechblock to move backward for extracting the exploded shell and compressing the loadingspring. The backward movement of the breech-block permits a lifting mechanism to elevate into line with the barrel a cartridge thatit has stripped from clips of the belt. The lifter near the completion of upward movement releases an ejecting mechanism that thrusts to one side the withdrawn exploded I shell, and then the lifter causes the release of pressed and the hammer cocked, and just after the breech is closed and the block locked, if the trigger is pulled, the sear is disengaged and the hammer permitted to strike the firingpin and explode the cartridge, which causes a repetition of the actions.

Of the drawings, Figure 1 shows in plan the feeding,loading,firing,and ejecting mech anisms, the casing being cut in central hori-' zontal section. Fig. 2 shows a horizontal section of the muzzle end of the case and barrel. 1 Fig. 3 shows a side elevation of these mechanisms with the breech closed and the block locked, the casing being cut in central vertical section. Fig. 4shows a central vertical section taken through the case and mechanisms with the parts in the positions occupied when the barrel is-forward and the breechblock' back. Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on the plane indicated by the dotted line A of Fig.1. Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken on the plane indicated by the dotted line B of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a transverse section taken on the plane indicated by the dotted line C of Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is aside elevation of the breech-block. Fig. 9 is an end elevation of the breech-block. Fig. 10 is a plan of the breech-block. Fig. 11 is a plan of the feed mechanisms. Fig. 12 is a plan of the lifter that strips the cartridges from the belt and raises them into line with the barrel. Fig. 13 shows a modifiedarrangement of mechanisms for making tense the breechblock spring.

The mechanisms of the gun illustrated in the drawings are inclosed in a case which has a section 1 surrounding a greater part of the barrel and a section 2 inclosing the feeding, loading, firing, and ejecting 1nech- 22:

anisms. The portion 3 of the top of the section 2 is removable, so that the active mechanisms inclosed by this section may be exposed for inspection or adjustment, and the butt of this section is closed by a cap 4, that is formed with a pistol-grip 5. A partition 6 extends across the section 2 in front of the active mechanisms to divide the chamber which the mechanisms occupy from the chamber surrounding the barrel 7, which latter chamber from the partition 6 to the sleeve 8 and cap 9, Fig. 2, is adapted to be filled with a temperature-reducing fluid.

The barrel is supported near the breech by the partition 6 and near the muzzle by a sleeve too 8, that with a cap 9 closes the front end of the case. The barrel is free to move longitudinally through these supports, and to prevent leakage of fluid at the front the sleeve 8 is provided with a gland in which is fitted a packing 10 and a packing-plug 11, and at the back leakage is prevented by providing the partition with a gland in which is fitted a packing 12, that is retained by the end of a sleeve 13, that surrounds the barrel near the breech, Fig. 2.

The sleeve 3 is held by the cap 9, so that it may be rotated, but not moved longitudinally. This sleeve has a head 100 on the outside of the cap 9 and a collar 101 on the inside of the cap, these parts permitting rotation, but preventing longitudinal movement of the sleeve. The sleeve may be turned by applying a wrench to the head. Upon the threaded inner end of the sleeve is another sleeve 14, and this latter sleeve is held from rotation by the engagement of the lug with ribs 16 on the interior of the case. Between the inturned end 17 of the sleeve 14 and a collar 18, secured to the barrel, a spring 19 is placed. When the barrel is moved back wardly, this spring is compressed by the collar, and the amount of compression may be regulated by turning the sleeve 8 and adjusting the position of the end 17 of the sleeve 14. The sleeves 8 and 14 are preferably perforated to permit the free access of fluid to the barrel and spring, Fig; 2.

Connected with the sleeve 13 by arms 20 is a cylinder 21, inwhich is fitted a piston 22, that is secured to the barrel. Back of the piston the cylinder communicates directly with the chamber in the casing 2 by the openings 99 between the arms 20. In front of the piston the cylinder opens into a chamber 23, and loosely supported, so as to slide on the barrel adjacent to the front opening of this chamber, is a valve 24. The backward movement of this valve is limited by the engagement of lugs 25, which it carries with the walls of the chamber 23, and the forward movement of the valve is limited by the engagement of the lugs 26, which it carries, with the face of a gear 27. The hub of this gear is fastened by rigid arms 28 to a ring 29, that has an exterior screw-thread fitting an interior screw-thread in. the end of the case-section 1. These screw-threads cause a longitudinal movement of the gear when it is rotated. A pinion 30 is supported by a lug 31, attached to the case in position to. mesh with the gear 27, and the shaft 98 of this pinion is extended rearward] y through the cap at the butt of the case and provided on the exterior with a handle 32, Figs. 1 and 2.

When the barrel is forced backward, the fluid, which'is inserted into the forward part of the case through the opening stopped by the plug 33, Fig. 7, will vflow freely from the, back of the cylinder into the chamber in front of, the cylinder as the piston moves backwardly, for the valve moves under the flow, so

as to open widely the front end of the chamber. When the barrel is drawn forward, the valve under the flow of fluid caused by the forward movement of the piston nearly closes the opening from the chamber through which the fluid must pass. This allows the backward movement of the barrel to be quick, so that the recoil of an exploding cartridge may be utilized to compress the spring, and it causes the forward movement of the barrel under the impulse of the spring to be slow, so that the mechanisms will operate easily and without shock, Fig. 2.

3y turning the handle of the pinion-shaft the forward limit of the valve may be determined, and thus the opening for the flow of fluid from the chamber is adjusted and the speed of forward movement of the barrel regulated.

The breech end of the barrel is connected with a frame 34, that extends to the butt of the case and is there supported by a collar 35, fitted in a cylindrical openingin a projection 36 from the cap 4. The forward end of the frame is bifurcated, and movable toward and from the breech of the barrel between the arms of the frame is a breech-block 37, Figs. 1 and 4.

The breech-block is provided with extracting-fingers 38, which grasp the heads of the cartridges and which form tongues along the sides and project into grooves 39 in the walls of the frame for guiding the breech-block in its movement toward and from the breech of the barrel. The breech-block has a firing-pin 40,thatispressed backbyaspring41. Anarm 42 for discharging the ejected shells through the side of the case projects from one side of the breech-block into a trough 43, that is arranged along the inside of the shell and is curved at its forward end, where it opens through the case, so as to direct the shells out of the case, Fig. 1. A wing with a cam edge 44 extends from the breech-block in such manner as to press down the cartridge-lifter when the breech-block goes forward, Figs. 8, 9, and 10..

Bent levers 45 are pivoted to opposite sides of the back end of the breech-block, and the rear ends of these levers are joined by a recoil-block 46, while the upper ends are joined by a pin 47, and these parts are located and move between the bifurcated arms of the frame 34. The front end of a rod 48 is connected by a strap 49 and a spring-pressed block 50 with the pin 47. The rear end of this red is connected with the upper ends of a pair of levers 51, that are pivoted upon arbors projecting from a block 52, that moves along a portion of the frame. A spring 53'is placed upon the frame between the collar 35 and theblock 52 to normally force the block forward. The lower ends of these levers 51 are joined to the end of a link 54, that is pivoted to arms 55, that depend from the frame 34. The ends of the arbors that project from the block 52 and upon which the lovers 51 are pivoted are provided with shoulders 56, Figs. 1, 3, and 4.

A pair of connected hooks 57 are pivoted to opposite sides of the cap 4, so as to extend forward in line with the shouldered ends of the arbors. These hooks are normally thrust downward by the pressure of a spring 58, and one of them is extended through the cap, so that the hooks maybe lifted from the outside, Figs. 1 and 3.

hen the breech-block is forward and closing the breech of the barrel, as in Figs. 1 and 3, the recoil-block 46 is forward and lifted up in line with the breech-block, so as to be backed by the wall 59 at the end of the bifurcated part of the frame, Fig. 4. The pressure of the parts that accomplishes the forward movement of the barrel being applied to the bent levers 45 causes them to first move forwardly and then when sufficiently far forward to oscillate, so that the recoil-block 46 will move up in front of the backing-block 59 and lock the breech-block home. Vhen a cartridge is exploded, the recoil drives the breech-block, the recoil-block, and the frame, with the lovers and barrel, backward together sulliciently far to enable the hoo s 57 to catch over the shouldered ends of the lever-arbors. After the force of the explosion is expended the spring, which was compressed by the recoil, draws the barrel and the attached frame forward to its normal position. The block 52, to which the levers 51 are pivoted, being held from forward movement by the engagement of the hooks 57 with the shouldered ends of the arbors 56, the block and levers cannot move forward with the barrel and frame, and this, through the link 54, causes the levers to oscillate from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 4. The oscillation of the levers first causes the recoilblock to oscillate downwardly away from the wall back of it, and then when the recoilblock is below the frame the levers draw the recoil-block and breech-block backward to the position shown in Fig. 4. This backward movement of the breech-block extracts the exploded shell from the barrel, and the backward movement of the block which supports the levers causes a compression of the spring 53 between the block 52 and the collar 35, Figs. 3 and 4.

. A shaft 60 is supported along one side of the case by lugs 61. Secured to this shaft is the lifter, the arms (32 of which project inwardly toward the middle of the case below the center, Figs. 6 and 12. The inner ends of these arms,which extend between the beltfeed wheels 82, Fig. 4, are curved to fit the cartridges, between which and the'belt they project as the belt is fed through the case, so as to strip the cartridges from the clips. The belt passes below the ends of the lifter-arms and the cartridges come in above the lifterarms, so that as the belt advances the cartridges are forced from it by the arms. A spring 63 is coiled about the shaft 60 to normally lift the arms and cause them to elevate into line with the breech-block the cartridges stripped from the belt, Figs. '1 and 6 to 11.

The lifting of a cartridge by the lifter crowds the exploded shell that has been extracted by the backward movement ofthe breech-block from the extractor-fingers, Fig.

4. As the lifter rises it comes into contact with a latch 64, that has a hooked end which catches over a lug and holds the ejectinglever 65, with its spring 66, under tension. When the ejecting-lever is freed from its latch by the upward movement of the lifter, that lever is thrown sidewise by its spring with suflicient force to thrust the exploded shell from above the breech-block into the trough 43, Fig. 1.

After the lifter has elevated a cartridge into line with the breech-block and the ejecting-lever has thrust aside the exploded shell a lug 67, projecting from the rear end of the shaft 60, encounters a lug 68, projecting from the side of one of the hooks 57, holding the block 52 against the thrust of the spring 53. This lifts the hooks from the arbors and allows the spring to thrust the block 52 forward, Figs. 1 and 3.

The forward movement of the block 52,

under the impulse of the spring 53, causes the levers 51 to .oscillate from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in'Fig. 3, and this, through the rod 48 and bent levers 45, moves the breechblock forward until it drives the cartridge home and tightly closes the breech. The oscillation of the levers for completing the upward movement of the breech-block causes the recoil-block, which moves forward with the breech-block, to os cillate upwardly in front of the recoil-wall 59 of the frame and lock the breech-block closed, Fig. During its forward movement the breech-block encounters the curved end of the ejecting-lever 65 and forces it sidewise to be caught by the hook of the latch '64 and held with its spring under tension for pushing aside the next exploded shell, Fig. 1. As the breech-block moves forward the cam 44 engages with and depresses the arms of the lifter, whichis held down by this cam, until the breech-block is moved back out of the way by the next forward movement of the barrel, Fig. 6.

The hammer 69 is movably mounted upon the rod 48. This hammer has a firing-head 7 0, arranged to strike the end of the firingpin in the breech-block, and a cocking-finger 71, located to'encounter the cocking-bar 72, that extends between the standards 73, projecting upwardly from the frame during the oscillation of the levers 51 from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 3, Fig. 4. Aspring 74 is placed upon the rod to normally thrust the hammer forward, and a scar 75 is pivotally connected with the strap 49,attached to the end of the rod 48 in such manner that when the cocking-finger 71 engages the cocking-bar 72 and the hammer is detained while the breech-block moves forward the shoulder 76 on the sear will catch the front lower edge 102 of the hammer and hold it back with the spring 74 under tension, Figs. 1, 3, and 4. As the lever 51 is oscillated from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 3 for pushing forward the breech-block and loading a cartridge into the barrel the pivotal connection between the lever 51 and the rod 48 moves on an arc of a' circle, rising the first half of the distance it travels and lowering the last half of its travel. By reason of this the back end of the rod 48 will first be raised and then lowered while it. is moving forwardly. The cocking-finger 71 is of such.

length that when the back end of the rod 48 is lifted as the upper end of the lever 51 oscillates forwardly it will engage the cock-.

ing-bar 72. The finger will be held by this bar as the forward movements of the lever, rod,

and breech-block continue until after the edge 102 of the hammer is engaged by the shoulder 76 of the sear. When. the hammer is held by the sear, the continued oscillation of the pivotal connection between the rod 48 and the lever 51 lowers the back end of the 1 rod to such an extent that the finger 71' is carried below the bar 72; but as the. hammer is then held by the sear it cannot be thrown forwardly, although the finger is disengaged from the her, until the sear is'disengaged. The hammer-head is held in this manner with the spring'under tension un til the firingbar '77 is drawn into the path of the end of the scar and causes it to oscillate so that its shoulder is withdrawn from the end of the hammer. The bar 77 is pivotallyheld by arms projecting from the partition 6, that divides the chambers of the case. One end of a rod 78 is connected with the firing-bar, and

,the other end of this rod is connected with sear; but the firing-bar may be drawn against 'the upper end of the trigger-arm79. That outside of the cap 4 at the butt of the case is provided with a finger-pull 80, Fig. 3. A

spring 81, Fig. 1, is arranged to normally hold this firing-bar out of the path of the the spring into the path of the sear when the triggeris pulled, so that when the sear reaches the forward limit of its movementit will en-' gage the firing-bar and be oscillated and release the hammer, allowingittobe forced by its spring against the firing-pin and cause the explosion of a cartridge, Figs. 1 and 3. The breech-block is first caused to slide forward and close the breech of the gun, and then if the operator has by pulling the trigger caused the bar 77 to bedrawn back that bar will be engaged by the curved part of the scar and the hammer released to act upon the firingpin.

The elastic connection formed by the strap 49 and spring-pressed block 50 between the rod 48 and the breech-block lever insures that the breech-block be forced completely home and locked in position by the recoilblock before the sear is caused to engage the back for feeding. pending from the frame engages with the end firing-bar for releasing the hammer and ex ploding the cartridge, Fig. 4.

The end of the belt containing the car tridges is passed into the case through an opening beneath the trough on the left-hand side below the level of and just back of the breech of the barrel, and the empty belt passes out through another opening on the opposite side. The belt employed is illustrated and described in United States Patent No.

023,243, of April 18,1189fl, and has teeth along its edges,which teeth are engaged by the teeth of the feed-wheels 82. The feed-wheels are secured to gears 83, that are held a little dis tance from each other by pivot-studs 84 on a platform85, that is supported by the case between the belt inlet and outlet openings. On

,the platform between the feed-wheel gears are intermediate spur-gears 86, which cause the simultaneous rotation of the feed-wheels, Figs. 3, 4, and 11. A feedlcver 87, with a tooth 90, is pivotally mounted between arms 88, projecting from the side of the frame 34, that moves back and forth with the barrel, and a spring 89 holds this lever so that its tooth 90 engages with the teeth of one ofthe feed-wheels. When the frame and barrel are forced backward by the recoil, the feed-lever is carried back, so that its tooth is drawn over the edge of a feed-wheel tooth, and when the frame and barrel are drawn forward the tooth of the feed-lever pushing against a feedwheel tooth gives that feed-wheel a movement which, through the intermediate gear, is communicated to the other feed-wheel, and this causes the feed-wheels to rotate a space and advance the cartridge -belt one step. The feedlever has a finger 91, that prevents the spring 89 from throwing the toothed end of the feed-lever too farinwardly, Figs. 4 and 11. A pawl 92 is fastened to the gear-platform 85 on the side of the feed-wheel opposite the feed-lever, and a spring 93 is arranged to thrust the downwardly-projecting tooth of thispawl into contact with the teeth of the feed-wheel as the feed-lever is being drawn back. This pawl is simply a drag for preventing the backward movement of the feedwheels when the feed-pawl 87is being drawn One of the arms 55 de- 94 of the pawl to keep it out of engagement with the feed-wheel teeth when it is not needed to prevent the backward movement of the feed-wheels, Figs. 3 and 11. A bar 95, with a hook 96 on itsinner end andahandle 97 on its outer end, is arranged so that the hook may be engaged with the block 52 and that block drawn backward by hand for opening the breech of the barrel, Figs. 1 and 4.

Pulling the trigger of this gun draws back the firing-bar, so that it moves the sear from engagement with the hammer and allows the hammer to be thrown forward and drive the firing-pin into the primer of the cartridge loaded in the barrel. Upon the explosion of the cartridge the breech-block and recoilblock force back the frame and barrel and depress the operating-spring. \Vhen the recoil is expended, the spring draws the barrel and frame forward. The block 52, hearing the levers, is engaged by the hooks and held when the frame is driven back by recoil, and this causes the levers to oscillate when the frame is drawn forward. The oscillation of the levers lowers down the recoil-block and withdraws the breech-block with the exploded shell. As the frame is drawn back the feed-lever is also drawn back, the pawl meanwhile holding the feed-wheels stationary. Vhen the breechbloek is back out of the way, the lifters elevate the cartridge which they have stripped from the belt and crowd the exploded shell from the extractor-fingers. As the cartridge is lifted into line with the breech-block and its head is held by the extractor-fingers the lifter raises the latch, allowing the ejector to thrust the exploded shell aside. After the cartridge is placed in front of the breech-- block the lifter-lug raises the hooks from the lever-block and allows the spring, which was compressed by the backward movement of the block when the frames reeoiled, to throw the block forward and cause such an oscillalation of the levers and movements of the parts that the breech-block forces the cartridge home and becomes locked in position. The forward movement of the connectingrod between the levers-and the breech-block causes the hammer to catch upon the cockiug-bar as it moves up and forward and be retarded until engaged by the sear. After the breech block is driven tightly to the breech if the trigger is pulled the sear engages the firing-bar, so as to release the ham-- mer and cause the explosion of the cartridge loaded into the barrel. The forward movement of the frame advances the feed-wheels and feeds the belt, so that another cartridge is stripped and held by the lifters ready to be elevated when the breech-block is again forced backward by the recoil. The forward movement of the breech-block discharges through the case the shell which was thrust to one side by' the ejector-lever. These operations are repeated as long as cartridges are supplied and the trigger is pulled so the sear in its forward movement engages the firing-bar. If the trigger is not pulled, the

sear will not engage with the firing-bar, and

consequently the hammer will not be released and a cartridge exploded. To adjust the speed of the forward movement of the barrel and consequent operations of the mechanisms under the influence of the operatingspring, the handle at the butt of the case is turned, so that through the pinion and gear the opening for the flow of fluid in front of the piston on the barrel is regulated.

In the form of mechanism described the spring 53 on a part of the frame is compressed between the collar 35 and the block 52 by the forward movement of the collar as the frame is drawn forward, and the block is held stationary by the hooks. In the form illustrated in Fig. 13 the spring 53 is compressed when the block moves backward as the frame recoils, for in this case the collar 35 is held stationary, and the end of the frame passes through it. In the first form this spring, which causes the forward movement of the breech-block, is compressed by the pull of the operating-spring. In the second form this spring is compressed by the recoil of the frame.

This gun may be mounted upon any suitable form of carriage.

I claim as my invention 1. An automatic machine-gun having a 1ongitudinally-movable barrel, a casing encircling the barrel, a fluid-chamber in the'casing and surrounding a part of the barrel, a cylinder surrounded by the fluid ehamber and surrounding a part of the barrel, said cylinder being open at both ends to the chamber in the case surrounding the barrel, a piston mounted upon and attached to the barrel and movable in the cylinder, a valve concentric with the barrel located at one end of the cylinder, and adjustable means for restricting the movement of the valve in one direction, substantially as specified.

2. An automatic machine-gun havingalongitudinallymovable barrel, a spring surrounding the barrel, a cylinder surrounding a part of the barrel, a piston mounted upon and attached to the barrel and movable in the cylinder, a passage for fluid around the cylinder, from one end of the cylinder to the other, and a valve loosely mounted upon the barrel adjacent to the front end of the cylinder, which valve is movable along the barrel toward and from an opening to the front end of the cylinder so as to permit a free flow of fluid in one direction through the passage but restrict the flow of fluid in the opposite direction, substantially as specified.

3. An automatic machine-gun having alongitudinally movable barrel, a spring surrounding the barrel, a cylinder surrounding the barrel, a piston mounted upon the barrel and movable in the cylinder, a passage forv fluid from one end of the cylinder to the other, a valve which permits the flow of fluid in one direction through the passage but restricts the flow of fluid in the opposite direction, and means extending from the interior to the exterior for adjusting the area of the opening around the valve, substantially as iting the movement of the valve in one direction, and means for rotating the sleeve and causing it to move longitudinally, substantially as specified, a

5. An automatic machine-gun having a longitudinally-movable barrel, a spring surrounding thebarrel, a cylinder concentric with-the barrel, a piston mounted upon the barrel and movable in the cylinder, a tiuidchamber surrounding the cylinder, a valve located concentrically with the barrel in the passage to the front end of the cylinder, a sleeve adapted to limit the forward movement of the valve supported by a threaded part and bearing a gear, a pinion meshing with the gear, and means for rotating the pinion and gear and causing the valve-support to move longitudinally of the barrel, substantially as specified.

6. In an automatic machine-gun having a longitudinally-movable barrel, an inclosing casing, a rotary sleeve surrounding the barrel near the muzzle and extending in the interior of the casing and through the end to the exterior, a longitudinally-movable sleeve connected by a thread with the rotary sleeve, a spring thrusting between a part of the barrel and a part of the inner sleeve, a cylinder surrounding the barrel, a piston mounted upon the barrel and movable in the cylinder, and a fluid-chamber surrounding the cylinder, substantially as specified.

7. An automatic machine-gun having a longitudinally-movable barrel, a frame secured to and movable with the barrel, a spring for drawing forward the barrel and frame, a

breech-block movable backward when the barrel and frame are forced back and movable still farther back when the barrel and frame are drawn forward, and levers connected with the breech-block and with the frame, said levers being pivoted to a block that is movable along a portion of the frame wherebythe levers are oscillated and the breech-block caused to move backward when the frame and barrel move forward, substantially as specified.

8. An automatic machine-gun havingalongitudinally-movable barrel, a frame secured to and movable with the barrel, a spring for drawing forward the barrel and frame, a breech-block and a recoil-block that is connected by levers with the breech-block moving backwar'dly with the barrel, levers connected with the breech-block and with the frame, said levers being pivoted to a block that is movable along a portion of the frame, a catch for engaging and retaining the pivotblock supporting the breech-block levers at the backward limit of its movement while the barrel and frame are drawn forward, a trip for releasing the catch from the pivot-block, and a spring for throwing the pivot-block forward when released whereby the breech-block may be forced forward and the recoil-block oscillated to lock the breech-block home, substantially as specified.

S). An automatic machine-gun havinga longitudinally-movable barrel, a frame movable with the barrel, a spring for drawing forward the barrel and frame, a breech-block and a recoil-block movable backward with the barre], a catch for retaining the breech-block at the backward limit of movement while the barrel and frame are drawn forward, a lifter for elevating cartridges into line with the breech-block and releasing the catch retaining the brooch-block, and a spring for throwing the breech-block and recoil-block forward when released, substantially as specified.

10. An automatic machinegun having a longitudinally-movable barrel, a frame movable with the barrel, a spring for drawing forward the barrel and frame, a breech-block and a recoil-block movable backward with the barrel, a catch for retaining the breech-block at the backward limit of movement while the barrel and frame are drawn forward, a lifter for elevating cartridges into line with the breech-block and releasing the catch retaining the breech-block, a spring for throwing forward the breech-block and the recoil-block,v

and an ejector for thrusting sidewise the exploded shells, released by the upward movement of the lifter, substantially as specified.

11. An automatic machine-gun having a longitudinally-movable barrel, a frame movable with the barrel,a spring for drawing forward the barrel and frame, a breech-block and a recoil-block movable backward with the barrel, a catch for retaining the breechblock at the backward limit of movement while the barrel and frame are drawn forward, a lifter for elevating cartridges into line with the breech-block and releasing the catch retaining the breech-block, a spring for throwing forward the breech-block and the recoil-block, an ejector for thrusting sidewise the exploded shells, released by the upward movement of the ejector, and a feed mechanism operated by the forward movement of the frame, substantially as specified.

12. An automatic machine-gun having a longitudinally-movable barrel, a frame-movable with the barrel,a spring for drawing forward the barrel and frame, a breech-block movable backward when the barrel and frame are drawn forward, levers connected with and movable backward with the breech-block, catches for engaging and holding thelevers at the backward limit of their movement, a

trip for releasing the catches, a spring for thrusting forward the breech-block levers, a shell-discharge arm rigidly secured to and movable longitudinally of the gun with the breech-block, substantially as specified. 1

13. An automatic machine-gun having a longitudinally-movable barrel, aframe movable with the barrel, a spring for drawing forward the barrel and frame, a breech block movable backward when the barrel and frame are drawn forward, a spring for thrusting forward the l rcecl1 block,a discharge-arm attached to the breech-block, and an ejector for thrusting the exploded shells into the path of the discharge-arm, substantially as specified.

. 14. An automatic machine-gun having a longitudinally-movable barrel, a frame movable with the barrel, a spring for drawing forward the barrel and frame, a block bearing levers loosely mounted upon the frame, a breech-block movable along the frame and connected with the levers, connections between the levers and the movable frame a catch for holding back the lever-block when the frame moves forward, a spring for thrusting forward the lever-block, a cartridge-lifter and a tripping device connected withthe cartridge-lifter and arranged for releasing the block-holding catch when the cartridge-lifter is in its highest position,substantially as specified.

15. An automatic machine-gun having a longitudinally-movable barrel, a frame movable with the barrel, a spring for drawing forward the barrel and frame, a block bearing levers loosely mounted upon the frame, a breech-block movable along the frame and connected with the levers, a link connecting the levers with the frame, a catch for holding back the lever-bearing block when the frame moves forward, a spring for thrusting forward the lever-block compressed by the movement of the frame, and a tripping device. for releasing the block-holding catch, substantially as specified;

16. An automatic machine-gun having a longitudinally-movable barrel, a frame movable with the barrel, a spring for drawing forward the barrel and frame, a breech-block movable along the frame, feed-wheels for advancing the cartridges transversely of the gun, said wheels moved by the forward motion of the frame, and an elevating device for lifting the cartridges from the feed mechanism after the backward movement of the breech-block, substantially as specified.-

17. An automatic machine-gun having a longitudinally-movable barrel, a frame movable with the barrel, a spring for drawing forward the barrel and frame, a breech-blocknection between the levers borne by the le-' ver-block and the levers connected with the breech-block, a connection between the blocklevers and the frame, a hammer supported by the connection between the levers, and a sear carried by a part connected with the breechblock, substantially as specified.

20. An automatic machine-gun having a longitudinally-movable barrel, a frame movable with the barrel, a spring for drawing forward the barrel and frame, a breech-block movable backward when the barrel and frame are drawn forward, a feed moved by the movement of the frame, a lifter released by the backward movement of the breech-block, and an ejector set by the forward movement of the breech-block and released by the upward movement of the lifter, substantially as specified. i

21. An automatic machine-gun having a longitudinally-movable barrel, a frame movable with the barrel, a spring for drawing forward the barrel and frame, a breech-block movable backward along the frame, a recoilblock secured to levers that are pivotally connected with the breech-block, levers pivoted upon a block that is movable along a portion of the frame, a connection between the latter levers and the frame, a connection between these levers and the levers that are connected with the recoil-block and the breech-block, catches for retaining the pivot-block in its backward position, and a trip operated by the lifting of a cartridge for releasing the catches from the pivot-block, substantially as specified.

22. An automatic machine-gun having a longitudinally-movable barrel, a frame movable With the barrel, a spring for drawing forward the barrel and frame, a feed mechanism operated by the forward movement of the frame, a breechblock drawn back by the forward movement of the frame, a lifter released by the backward movement of the breechblock, an extractor set in operation by the upward movement of the lifter, a loading-spring Set in operation by the upward movement of movement of the breech-block, and a scar tripped from the hammer after forward movement of the breech-block, substantially as specified.

' 23. In an automatic gun in combination v the lifter, a hammer cooked by the forward with the movable barrel, the frame attached to the barrel and the breech-block movable along the frame, a pivot-block movable backwardly and forwardly along the barrel-frame, breech-block levers mounted upon the pivotbloek and connected bylinks with the frame and also with the breech-block, catch-levers pivotally supported by the immovable casing and adapted to engage with and temporarily hold against forward movement the pivot- [0 block with the breech-block levers, and inechanisms for releasing the catch-levers from the pivot-block, substantially as specified.

FRANK M. GARLAND.

\Vitnesses:

HARRY R. \VILLIAMS, E. J. HYDE. 

